Three Tips for Improving Your Couple Photo Shoots (Affection, Know Story, Be Personable)

1. Encourage Affection:  Couples will be couples but that doesn’t mean that it makes a memorable photograph.  Encourage your couples to talk as you back off. I will tend to pose the couple close and step back and just let them talk a bit. I have used the “my camera’s adjustments…” to take the pressure off me and on to them. As they wait you will start to see the couple focus on each other rather than the photographer or shoot.
    
2. Know Their Story: Some stories are great and romantic, some are well just plain but each story is important. Know how they met and use it in conversation. Even only getting one side of the story and using it as a connection conversation can strike up laughter.
    
3. Be Personable but Stay in Your Lane: I am a naturally funny guy. I like to laugh. Even if I dislike you and you say something funny I will laugh…that’s how much I like to laugh.  I use this when I shoot. If your lady calls you “papi” it’s over. I am using that the rest of the shoot.  I will even say things like “baby is a wonderful statement but when a lady call you papi…you are the man.”  What guy doesn’t want to be the man?  I will even turn the joke on myself and say “Man us regular dudes get honey, sugar, boo…but papi? You the man (fist bump).” This is a risk if your personality isn’t toward that nature. Also this may not work with people older than 50…use age appropriate humor. It will flavor the shoot and they will love your effort.